| Behind the stacks |
Among the thousands of documents we’re digitizing is our collection of translations of the 1949 #GenevaConventions and 1977 & 2005 Additional Protocols. It represents more than 140 documents, in 40 different languages! 🌐
4/ Would you like to learn more about the history of the ICRC? Explore our research guide “ICRC history: a primer” on Cross-files!
3/ From those early discussions emerged an institution that kept the same objective from the start: ensure protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and strife.
2/ The beginnings of the ICRC were therefore very modest: on February 17th, 1863, five men, including Henry Dunant, met in Geneva to discuss these humanitarian proposals. The minutes of this first meeting are available at the ICRC Archives.
1/ Its author, Henry Dunant, recounts the story of a battle he witnessed “through an unusual train of circumstances”, as he himself writes. He ends his work with concrete humanitarian proposals to alleviate the suffering of combatants.
Today, we take a step back in time to share with you the story of the ICRC. It all began with a book: “A Memory of Solferino”. ⬇️
Big news! We’re kicking off the operational phase of our most ambitious digitization project yet. One step closer to online access to the ICRC archives and library collections for all.
Read more ⬇️
✨ Happy new year! Looking back on a 2025 highlight, our colleague Clara from the ICRC archives just posted a new piece on the "Fiaccolata", the Battle of Solferino, and Henry Dunant's experience.
Read at : blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
Happy Holidays! ✨
The library will be closed from December 22, 2025, to January 2, 2026. We wish you a pleasant end to the year, full of rest and good reads!
🌟The ICRC library is ready for the holidays : a somewhat precarious RC tree complete with the obligatory #IHL book ornaments! 🎄
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols set out detailed rules governing the use of the protective emblems, specifying who may use them, under what conditions, on which types of material, and in what size.
blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
#DidYouKnow ?
Twenty years ago, the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 was adopted. This protocol led to the adoption of a third distinctive emblem, in addition to the #RedCross and #RedCrescent: the Red Crystal.
A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of welcoming colleagues from @cern.bsky.social #library and #archives. It was a wonderful opportunity to present our collections, exchange on our working methods, discuss common challenges, and spend a meaningful moment together!
At the library, we have the record of this first trial in both French (online) and English. We've also published an article on our Cross-Files blog - go take a look!
⚖️Today marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the first #Nuremberg Trial.
On the 20th of November 1945, the International Military Tribunal began prosecuting high-ranking Nazi leaders for conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
📚We have posted on our blog a new article presenting a selection of books on environmental issues in times of armed conflict. Enjoy the read!
blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
In the latest issue of the Int'l Review of the Red Cross on the Protection of the Dead, we recommend the book "Anthropology of violent death". 📖 Read in #openaccess: doi.org/10.1017/S181...
| Behind the stacks |
The library team just started preparing its next digitization project. Highlights so far: tackling publications with three different reference codes and discovering unknown translations in Swahili or in Urdu … 50 boxes done, 250 more to go! 📚
📃 Want to know more about the adoption and the evolution of our Fundamental Principles? Read our research guide :
In this first episode, the true story behind The Great Escape🎬 : Roger Bushell (born #OnThisDay in 1910) never gives up on his travel plans, chairs and💡 go missing, and Harry is ten meters too short. Plus, what #IHL says about retaliation against POWs after escape attempts.
We’re kicking off a new series on the ICRC Library & Archives blog: stories of WWII Prisoners-of-War escapes told through our unique sources.
🪁 blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
Did you know the @icrc.org's first president was a General? Swiss General Dufour died exactly 150 years ago. The ICRC’s humanitarian mission was grounded in battlefield experience from the start.
🔗Today’s military perspectives in the Intl Review of the Red Cross: library.icrc.org/library/sear...
It was only in 1996 that ICRC archives opened its reading rooms to external researchers. What research tools were put at their disposal back then? How have these tools evolved throughout history?
#ArchivesAreAccessible
blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/... [fr]
blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/... [en]
Since February 2025 the ICRC Public Archives have launched their new online catalogue, enabling researchers to browse inventories covering more than a hundred years of humanitarian history! #ArchivesAreAccessible #IAW2025
Explore the Archives online catalogue: archives.icrc.org/search/simple
It’s #InternationalArchivesWeek and this year’s theme is #ArchivesAreAccessible.
Perfect time to learn about the rules of access to the ICRC Archives, a balance between transparency and protection that reflects multiple stakes and challenges.
library.icrc.org/library/sear...
#IAW2025
Newly digitized from the ICRC Archives 👇
Contribute to making them searchable—for research and remembrance.
To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of Nazi rule, @arolsenarchives.bsky.social will publish file cards from Drancy camp that are part of ICRC Archives on platform #everynamecounts.
Help build the world's largest digital memorial to the victims of Nazism: everynamecounts.arolsen-archives.org/en
Since 1863, our library collections tell the history of the #RedCross #RedCrescent Movement.
On World #RedCrossDay and #RedCrescentDay, explore our collections of publications from National Societies around the 🌎 : blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
¡Hoy es el Día del Idioma Español!
Para celebrarlo, lanzamos la versión en español de nuestro blog.
Explora nuestros artículos traducidos: blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
UNESCO’s initiative safeguards our shared history from destruction, decay, and amnesia. Recognized across borders, cultures, and time, #IHL treaties are part of humanity's collective heritage – as historical artefacts and, above all, as living instruments to protect people in armed conflict.